Tag Archives: break the fashion rules

It’s Festival and Fringe time in Edinburgh in August, and that means the streets are full of colourful characters who never follow fashion rules! Hats off (or on!) to them. Who made up the fashion rules anyway? One of the best ways to express your personality is through your clothes, so throw away the rule book, and prepare to break all the fashion rules.

We’ve highlighted six of the most common fashion rules – and explained why these rules are definitely made to be broken!

1. Black and navy should never be worn together.

Who came up with this one? Not anyone who wore dark jeans with a black t-shirt, that’s for sure. One of the oldest fashion rules around, we think this deserves to be broken every day of the week – navy and black perfectly complement each other. You just have to wear it like you mean it, and it doesn’t look like you’ve just picked up the wrong items in the dark before heading out to work!

Er, maybe in 1953, not 2013! This is one rule that really should not exist any more, and if anyone tries to tell you otherwise, educate them. Clash colours, mix up patterns, textures and fabrics. Try and pick out a tonal contrast in each item, if you really can’t do a red bag, and bright blue shoes. But leave those matching sets in the vintage shop, please!

Oh yeah? Why not. All the designers are doing it. Polka dots and leopard print? Yes! Mix your patterns and prints, and be bold about it. This is one for the fashion brave – don’t do this if you are shy – people will stare. But if you can pull it off, walk tall in the boldest of patterns teamed with stripes, spots, squares, diamonds, or any print you like!

…blah, blah, blah. Okay, if you wear head to toe red and bright emerald green you may be in danger of looking like one of Santa’s little helpers, but when it comes to daft fashion rules, this is one of them. Red and green make a bold statement, and if you tone the green down to a khaki, even better, if you don’t fancy full-on colour blocking. Also, try a green top, a pair of jeans, and a pair of red shoes – you will surprise yourself!

What?Where’s the fun in that? Sparkle, shimmer and glitter are staples of party-wear, but who’s to say you can’t shine during the day as well. Just be subtle with it if it scares you – a little bit of glitter wool in a hat, a sequin jumper with some jeans, or a simple bejewelled dress, dressed down with black tights and trainers? Why not?

Oh come on! In Scotland?! Never wear bare legs! There is nothing wrong with open toe sandals and tights – just maybe not American tan ‘nude’ tights with that awful toe seam. Make a statement with a bold pair of coloured shoes, and some contrasting tights. Mix lace tights with fierce sandals. And what about those open toe boots – mmm, we’re still debating those, if we are honest…